Some species of fish in the 32 lakes tested high enough for mercury to be considered unsafe for “unlimited consumption,” according to the news release from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality.

“Unless you are somebody who lives on fish, that it's a huge part of your diet, several times a week, for the most part it's not a big deal,” said Gene Gilliland, assistant chief of fisheries for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Children and pregnant women are advised to eat less fish from the lakes because they are considered a “sensitive population” more at risk.

“Obviously, children and pregnant women should follow these guidelines,” Gilliland said.

DEQ recommends that women of child bearing age and children 15 and younger should eat no more than one meal per week of largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, white, striped or hybrid bass and walleye, saugeye and flathead catfish from the listed lakes.

Typically, the older and larger predator fish have higher levels of mercury, Gilliland said. People can safely eat fish from the listed lakes as long as they do so in moderation, he said.

“You certainly want to be careful, but for the most part it's not something that should scare people,” he said. “People just need to pay attention to the advisories and I think they will be OK.”